Okanogan Valley Soroptimists offer $1,500 education grant for women

OKANOGAN VALLEY - Soroptimist International of Okanogan Valley has announced the opening of applications for its Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women program. The initiative offers financial assistance to women who are the primary wage earners for their families and are seeking to further their education or professional training.

The local club will provide at least one cash award of $1,500 to a selected recipient, who will then advance to the Soroptimist Northwestern Region level, where recipients could receive up to an additional $5,000. The program culminates with three finalists and $10,000 awards at the international level.

Applications are available by contacting Marie Falmo at (509) 429-4352 or by email at siokanganvalley@soroptimist.net. The application deadline is November 15.

Recipients can use the Live Your Dream Award to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This includes tuition, books, childcare, carfare, or any other education-related expense.

The Live Your Dream Award provides over $2.8 million in cash awards to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program's inception in 1972, more than $40 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.

A study conducted by The Fels Institute of Government, a research and consulting organization based at the University of Pennsylvania, confirmed the efficacy and impact of this program. It found that the award improves the recipients' quality of life, builds their confidence, strengthens their self-determination, and makes them want to, in turn, help others.

The Okanogan Valley club is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization, relies on charitable donations to support its programs and also powers LiveYourDream.org, an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.

Women interested in applying for the Live Your Dream Award can contact the Okanogan Valley club for more information before the November 15 application deadline.

For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org.